The Senate is set to vote on yet another historic nomination for Indian Country. Keith Harper, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has been nominated to serve as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council. If confirmed, he will be the first member of a federally-recognized tribe to serve in an ambassador-rank post. According to the Senate floor schedule, Harper’s nomination is due to considered at 5:30pm on June 2. Harper will first need to survive a cloture vote, which requires at least 51 votes, before he gets to a final vote.

Keith M. Harper (Cal. No. 633)
Ordered, That at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2014, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Keith M. Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council and that there be 2 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form prior to the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Harper nomination. (PN1108) (May 22, 2014.)

Keith M. Harper (Cal. No. 633)
Ordered, That with respect to the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Keith M. Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council, the mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII be waived. (PN1108) (May 22, 2014.)